Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Wed Feb 15, 2012 10:37 pm
Hi Everybody! We're continuing to take advantage of the mild winter by working most every day. We know that Mother Nature is likely to make up for the nice weather with a nasty cold snap. As a result, projects are rockin' along and it is wearing us out!
The 310 Kate is nearly finished. Below you can see Bill Fier (right), Scott Phifer, and Scott's daughter, Nina (or Rosie as we call her now) wrapping up the sheet metal repairs to the lower cowl section.
We pulled the Kate out last Wednesday to run the new engine for the first time. Sure was good to see that prop spinning again!
After a VERY successful run, we pulled her in and continued work. We fixed a couple of electrical issues and pulled her out again and I tuned the carb a bit to get the idle exactly right. Then she came back inside and I painted the last of the sheet metal repairs, the bottom nose cowl section. Then we put her back together. I shot these two photos today...
Look at the photos of her arriving on the truck earlier in this thread and you can see how hard the Cobra Den maintenance crew has been working! Yesterday, we painted the upper surfaces of the re-skinned elevators and today, we installed the elevators on the aircraft. The elevator trim cables were cut by the crew that prepared the plane for shipping (Grrrrr...) and tomorrow we begin rigging the new cable. Below you can see Bill Fier working on the elevator pivot bolts.
Bill has done an incredible job of getting the 310 Kate back together.
Last Wednesday, after we ran the Kate, Mike Collier took the P-63 for some final taxi tests around the ramp.
The plane is performing beautifully and passed all of her tests. We were planning to go ahead and fly her almost two weeks ago, but I decided to perform one last set of system function tests and the gear retract test failed. Actually, they retracted fine but they wouldn't come down again... We found a broken wire in the down limit switch and badly burned contact points in the landing gear relays. We had performed 8 or 10 retract tests with Collier in the cockpit a few weeks earlier and every one of them went smoothly. Go figure. I believe it was a good thing because, while the broken wire was the problem this time, it led us to find the bad relay points which were destined to fail in the near future. I replaced the relays and the landing gear once again retract AND extend smoothly.
While all this has been going on, we have been working on the Yellow Rose also. We found cracks in BOTH landing gear drag links when we performed the tests per the mandatory service bulletin. We have been preparing for a few days, but today we removed the right main landing gear strut. Having not done this before, we kind of made it up as we went along. Jim Liles had devised a plan which worked fairly well and, truth be told, it came out a bit easier than I believed it would. We are still working on getting the drag link separated from the strut. I couldn't get pictures of us lowering the strut, everyone was helping out, but here a some after photos...
And below, Billy Parker ponder how to get that drag link off the strut...
We have a couple of other projects going on, when we have the people to do them. Right now, we hope to have the P-63 and the 310 Kate in the air within a week. Collier's T-6 annual is complete and he should be flying it in the next few days, too.
Thanks!
The 310 Kate is nearly finished. Below you can see Bill Fier (right), Scott Phifer, and Scott's daughter, Nina (or Rosie as we call her now) wrapping up the sheet metal repairs to the lower cowl section.
We pulled the Kate out last Wednesday to run the new engine for the first time. Sure was good to see that prop spinning again!
After a VERY successful run, we pulled her in and continued work. We fixed a couple of electrical issues and pulled her out again and I tuned the carb a bit to get the idle exactly right. Then she came back inside and I painted the last of the sheet metal repairs, the bottom nose cowl section. Then we put her back together. I shot these two photos today...
Look at the photos of her arriving on the truck earlier in this thread and you can see how hard the Cobra Den maintenance crew has been working! Yesterday, we painted the upper surfaces of the re-skinned elevators and today, we installed the elevators on the aircraft. The elevator trim cables were cut by the crew that prepared the plane for shipping (Grrrrr...) and tomorrow we begin rigging the new cable. Below you can see Bill Fier working on the elevator pivot bolts.
Bill has done an incredible job of getting the 310 Kate back together.
Last Wednesday, after we ran the Kate, Mike Collier took the P-63 for some final taxi tests around the ramp.
The plane is performing beautifully and passed all of her tests. We were planning to go ahead and fly her almost two weeks ago, but I decided to perform one last set of system function tests and the gear retract test failed. Actually, they retracted fine but they wouldn't come down again... We found a broken wire in the down limit switch and badly burned contact points in the landing gear relays. We had performed 8 or 10 retract tests with Collier in the cockpit a few weeks earlier and every one of them went smoothly. Go figure. I believe it was a good thing because, while the broken wire was the problem this time, it led us to find the bad relay points which were destined to fail in the near future. I replaced the relays and the landing gear once again retract AND extend smoothly.
While all this has been going on, we have been working on the Yellow Rose also. We found cracks in BOTH landing gear drag links when we performed the tests per the mandatory service bulletin. We have been preparing for a few days, but today we removed the right main landing gear strut. Having not done this before, we kind of made it up as we went along. Jim Liles had devised a plan which worked fairly well and, truth be told, it came out a bit easier than I believed it would. We are still working on getting the drag link separated from the strut. I couldn't get pictures of us lowering the strut, everyone was helping out, but here a some after photos...
And below, Billy Parker ponder how to get that drag link off the strut...
We have a couple of other projects going on, when we have the people to do them. Right now, we hope to have the P-63 and the 310 Kate in the air within a week. Collier's T-6 annual is complete and he should be flying it in the next few days, too.
Thanks!
Last edited by Ray Clausen on Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:15 am, edited 2 times in total.
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:51 am
Ray,
Thanks for the update ... looking forward to seeing the Rose in Dayton.
Jerry
Thanks for the update ... looking forward to seeing the Rose in Dayton.
Jerry
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:52 am
Fantastic work folks, particularly to get the Kate back in the air so quickly! It's a testament not only to your team's hard work and expertise, but also to the pilot's skill in getting it down nice and straight so that the damage could be repaired fairly quickly.
Just a heartwarming post all around.
Well done to everyone!!!
Lynn
Just a heartwarming post all around.
Well done to everyone!!!Lynn
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:56 pm
A GREAT day for us at the Cobra Den today!! The Tora 310 Kate returned to flight!The weather was dreary and overcast all morning but in the early afternoon, the sun broke through and warmed things up. Soon the skies were clear and pilot Bill Fier was chomping at the bit to get the Kate back in the air. After a good warmup and one last checkout of everything we could check on the ground, I gave him the go-ahead and off he went...
Here is the 310 Kate just after takeoff.
Bill put her through some preplanned paces and checked everything out, then brought her back for a good looking over. Below, he taxis in...
One minor oil leak was quickly found and fixed. On her second flight of the day, Bill was allowed to make a low pass down the runway. That plane is just beautiful in the bright sun!
The plane arrived in San Marcos on October 18, 2011 and she was ready to fly on February 16, 2012, just under 4 months! Bill led the crew in a phenomenal effort and I couldn't be more proud of him and the entire Cobra Crew. Bill will be flying a lot in the coming days. He and the Kate have some scheduled airshow dates starting in early March and I won't let him leave the vicinity of the airport until he's racked up 10 or so hours of solid flight time. I'm such a hardass sometimes...
If you attend an airshow, catch the Tora act, and see the 310 Kate, come on by and check her out!
Thanks!
Here is the 310 Kate just after takeoff.
Bill put her through some preplanned paces and checked everything out, then brought her back for a good looking over. Below, he taxis in...
One minor oil leak was quickly found and fixed. On her second flight of the day, Bill was allowed to make a low pass down the runway. That plane is just beautiful in the bright sun!
The plane arrived in San Marcos on October 18, 2011 and she was ready to fly on February 16, 2012, just under 4 months! Bill led the crew in a phenomenal effort and I couldn't be more proud of him and the entire Cobra Crew. Bill will be flying a lot in the coming days. He and the Kate have some scheduled airshow dates starting in early March and I won't let him leave the vicinity of the airport until he's racked up 10 or so hours of solid flight time. I'm such a hardass sometimes...
If you attend an airshow, catch the Tora act, and see the 310 Kate, come on by and check her out!
Thanks!
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Mon Feb 20, 2012 11:41 pm
I sure like that intake on 310. When my 8 year old saw the pictures of the damage last year he said " we should donate some parts". We sent a scoop your way but never heard whether it made it out there or if it was used. I hope it did, and was! Great work Ray, you seem to have a talented and motivated team working out there. I know a lot of people may not realize how much work and money goes in to keeping those airplanes going, and you're keeping up with quite a few.
Chunks
Chunks
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:24 am
Congrats!! 
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:34 am
Is the P-63 next???
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Sat Mar 03, 2012 11:00 pm
Busy Times at the Cobra Den
After the 310 Kate flew on Monday, we celebrated a little and then returned to work. We did some final checking and testing on the P-63F King Cobra over a couple of days and, on Saturday, the 25th, we got the P-63 back into the air for the first time in 6 years.That was two BIG projects back in the air in the same week. I'm pretty proud of the maintenance team we have at the Cobra Den. See the "CAF P-63F News" thread for more.
Yes, we did celebrate. But then we went back to work. We were having big problems with the right drag link on the Yellow Rose landing gear and it's refusal to separate from the strut. We persuaded it to let go and got things cleaned up and, today, we installed the right main landing gear in the Rose. The left strut was much more cooperative and was installed last week. The brakes and wheel are back on that one and the gear doors are almost completely hooked back up. We'll have a busy week next week working on the Rose and she'll be back in the air soon.
The P-39 will be the focus plane after the Rose is completed and will be the only one in the hangar needing our attention. Unfortunately, the left wing leading edge skin work was not turning out as well as I had hoped and was simply not up to my standards. So, a couple of weeks ago, I made the call to start over. We will begin work next week to remake the ribs and skins. The good news, for us, is that we just recently gained access to a facility that has a press for making those ribs and I have two sheet metal professionals who will mentor us. Many were disappointed to hear of my decision and the delay it will represent in getting back in the air, but I'm convinced it was the right thing to do. It has to be done right, or we'll keep doing it over until we get it right. I want the Centex Wing maintenance team to be known for quality work, not crappy work, and the plane is a national treasure and to do less would be a disservice to the men and women who built and flew the P-39. Also, our pilots, and all those who may find themselves under the plane as it goes by, are priceless to us. The Miss Connie will return to flight, soon I hope, and those repairs will be right when she does.
Thanks!
After the 310 Kate flew on Monday, we celebrated a little and then returned to work. We did some final checking and testing on the P-63F King Cobra over a couple of days and, on Saturday, the 25th, we got the P-63 back into the air for the first time in 6 years.That was two BIG projects back in the air in the same week. I'm pretty proud of the maintenance team we have at the Cobra Den. See the "CAF P-63F News" thread for more.
Yes, we did celebrate. But then we went back to work. We were having big problems with the right drag link on the Yellow Rose landing gear and it's refusal to separate from the strut. We persuaded it to let go and got things cleaned up and, today, we installed the right main landing gear in the Rose. The left strut was much more cooperative and was installed last week. The brakes and wheel are back on that one and the gear doors are almost completely hooked back up. We'll have a busy week next week working on the Rose and she'll be back in the air soon.
The P-39 will be the focus plane after the Rose is completed and will be the only one in the hangar needing our attention. Unfortunately, the left wing leading edge skin work was not turning out as well as I had hoped and was simply not up to my standards. So, a couple of weeks ago, I made the call to start over. We will begin work next week to remake the ribs and skins. The good news, for us, is that we just recently gained access to a facility that has a press for making those ribs and I have two sheet metal professionals who will mentor us. Many were disappointed to hear of my decision and the delay it will represent in getting back in the air, but I'm convinced it was the right thing to do. It has to be done right, or we'll keep doing it over until we get it right. I want the Centex Wing maintenance team to be known for quality work, not crappy work, and the plane is a national treasure and to do less would be a disservice to the men and women who built and flew the P-39. Also, our pilots, and all those who may find themselves under the plane as it goes by, are priceless to us. The Miss Connie will return to flight, soon I hope, and those repairs will be right when she does.
Thanks!
Last edited by Ray Clausen on Sat Dec 20, 2014 11:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Sun Mar 04, 2012 12:36 am
"It has to be done right, or we'll keep doing it over until we get it right. "
Gary would be proud
Gary would be proud
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:30 am
67N20 wrote:"It has to be done right, or we'll keep doing it over until we get it right. "
Gary would be proud
Reading the message of Ray Clausen, I had the same feeling
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:08 pm
We have the Rose standing on her own legs now. Sure is good to see her off the jacks! We're repairing some hydraulic leaks in the nosewheel area and are completing the gear hookups. We will perform a retract test when we get fluid back in the hydraulic system and run the engines for their leak test, then button her up and she is ready for the air. Not sure how long that will take, the hydraulic fixes will decide that.
The 310 Kate will leave for Yuma this week. Pilot Bill Fier is really looking forward to getting back on the circuit. The plane is performing beautifully and he spent all day Saturday polishing it. Work will begin soon on a new bomb to hang under her. I want a torpedo myself...
The P-63 is ready to resume flying after we successfully tested the corrections to the squawks from the first flight. Mike Collier will fly her Monday.
We have removed the left wing tip tank from the U-3 after a fuel leak developed. It's kind of crazy the way that tank is held in place. I hope to find the leak quickly as we have some idea where it might be.
The pace of work on the P-39 should pick up starting tomorrow. Most of the sheet metal is here and the P-39 has become our focus plane as most everything else is good to go.
You can see we're staying busy at the Cobra Den. We cleaned up quite a bit Friday in preparation for Spring Break. We get a lot of visitor traffic during that time. Hope you can come for a visit!
Thanks!
I'll be prepping and painting the tail of the Stearman with the familiar red and white stripes later this week.
The 310 Kate will leave for Yuma this week. Pilot Bill Fier is really looking forward to getting back on the circuit. The plane is performing beautifully and he spent all day Saturday polishing it. Work will begin soon on a new bomb to hang under her. I want a torpedo myself...
The P-63 is ready to resume flying after we successfully tested the corrections to the squawks from the first flight. Mike Collier will fly her Monday.
We have removed the left wing tip tank from the U-3 after a fuel leak developed. It's kind of crazy the way that tank is held in place. I hope to find the leak quickly as we have some idea where it might be.
The pace of work on the P-39 should pick up starting tomorrow. Most of the sheet metal is here and the P-39 has become our focus plane as most everything else is good to go.
You can see we're staying busy at the Cobra Den. We cleaned up quite a bit Friday in preparation for Spring Break. We get a lot of visitor traffic during that time. Hope you can come for a visit!
Thanks!
I'll be prepping and painting the tail of the Stearman with the familiar red and white stripes later this week.
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:51 pm
Wow! A great day at he Cobra Den! The P-63F flew two one-hour flights today. The plane is performing really well and Mike is trying to burn off some of the 10 hours the FAA required to be done locally before ranging out from San Marcos. Next flight is scheduled for Friday and will involve a chase plane trying to do some aerial photography. The T-6 photo plane will be getting chased more than it will be doing any chasing, I bet. We got some great shots from the ground today and along with what we get Friday, I should have some great posts this weekend. Chappie, and anyone else wanting photos, let me know what you're needing and we should have them Saturday.
We also took the Yellow Rose out today and ran her. Sure was good to hear those 2600's fire up! We seem to have dried up the numerous hydraulic leaks we had and the run went very well. Friday, we will put her up on jacks for a retract test and any gear door adjustments that may be necessary. We're just a few days from being ready to fly!
Tomorrow (Thursday), the Travel Channel will be filming some footage of the CAF hangar and the San Marcos airport so we spent part of today cleaning up the hangar. Sure wish I could keep it looking that good all the time...
Haven't done the Stearman paint yet, but hoping to get started Friday.
We have a member with a T-34 that I just helped install a brand new engine in and it should be fired up for the first time Saturday. I suppose a first flight is possible. Our CJ-6 should go up and we look for the P-63 to fly Saturday, also. The other two pilots may come up from Houston to get back in it, too. Should be a lot to see!
Come see us if you can!
Thanks!
We also took the Yellow Rose out today and ran her. Sure was good to hear those 2600's fire up! We seem to have dried up the numerous hydraulic leaks we had and the run went very well. Friday, we will put her up on jacks for a retract test and any gear door adjustments that may be necessary. We're just a few days from being ready to fly!
Tomorrow (Thursday), the Travel Channel will be filming some footage of the CAF hangar and the San Marcos airport so we spent part of today cleaning up the hangar. Sure wish I could keep it looking that good all the time...
Haven't done the Stearman paint yet, but hoping to get started Friday.
We have a member with a T-34 that I just helped install a brand new engine in and it should be fired up for the first time Saturday. I suppose a first flight is possible. Our CJ-6 should go up and we look for the P-63 to fly Saturday, also. The other two pilots may come up from Houston to get back in it, too. Should be a lot to see!
Come see us if you can!
Thanks!
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:54 pm
As usual, we've been pretty busy. We're in great shape for flying, though.
The P-63's performance continues to exceed our expectations. I'm having problems with both the coolant and the oil cooling system automatic doors. They work fine in manual mode. One is missing the thermostatic bulb and the other quit during the last flight. Those are the only squawks we have. We'll start looking at that tomorrow. Anybody have a couple of spare thermostatically controlled linear actuators lying around? Our other two P-63 pilots will do a ground school and check flights on April 28. The plane probably won't fly again before then - chief pilot Collier needs a medical... We went up last week with a chase plane for some aerial photos. First, the takeoff.
Great to have her back in the air!
We wrapped up work on the Yellow Rose Monday and will fly her Wednesday for the funeral flyover of a member recently gone west. Then she gets cleaned and prepped for the Doolittle trip to Dayton.
We had a Young Eagles day this past Saturday and our members flew between 20 and 30 kids. The weather was fantastic and all seemed to have a good time. They got to see the P-63 fly for over an hour and we launched a couple of T-6's.
I finished the tailfeathers on the Stearman it came out pretty well, if I say so myself. The owner, Buck Willis, was very pleased and he got a lot of good feedback at a one-day fly-in at Meacham Field last Saturday. Here's a lo-res shot before we put the N number on it.
With all but our P-39 ready for duty, we'll be focusing on it. We're all anxious to see Miss Connie back in the air and making a low, fast pass in formation with the P-63!
Lastly, April 28th, we will be helping out with a BiPlane Fly-in at the San Marcos airport. The center of activity will be the Cobra Den. I understand that they are expecting well over 100 plane (the guys in the tower will love that!). They're offering free Stearman rides for World War 2 pilots and have at least 16 attending. The Rose and a T-6 will be selling rides. There will be classic cars there also. You don't have to be in a biplane to join in, single wings of all sizes are welcome, too! The P-63 should make a couple of flights that afternoon for the pilot qualifications.
Thanks!
The P-63's performance continues to exceed our expectations. I'm having problems with both the coolant and the oil cooling system automatic doors. They work fine in manual mode. One is missing the thermostatic bulb and the other quit during the last flight. Those are the only squawks we have. We'll start looking at that tomorrow. Anybody have a couple of spare thermostatically controlled linear actuators lying around? Our other two P-63 pilots will do a ground school and check flights on April 28. The plane probably won't fly again before then - chief pilot Collier needs a medical... We went up last week with a chase plane for some aerial photos. First, the takeoff.
Great to have her back in the air!
We wrapped up work on the Yellow Rose Monday and will fly her Wednesday for the funeral flyover of a member recently gone west. Then she gets cleaned and prepped for the Doolittle trip to Dayton.
We had a Young Eagles day this past Saturday and our members flew between 20 and 30 kids. The weather was fantastic and all seemed to have a good time. They got to see the P-63 fly for over an hour and we launched a couple of T-6's.
I finished the tailfeathers on the Stearman it came out pretty well, if I say so myself. The owner, Buck Willis, was very pleased and he got a lot of good feedback at a one-day fly-in at Meacham Field last Saturday. Here's a lo-res shot before we put the N number on it.
With all but our P-39 ready for duty, we'll be focusing on it. We're all anxious to see Miss Connie back in the air and making a low, fast pass in formation with the P-63!
Lastly, April 28th, we will be helping out with a BiPlane Fly-in at the San Marcos airport. The center of activity will be the Cobra Den. I understand that they are expecting well over 100 plane (the guys in the tower will love that!). They're offering free Stearman rides for World War 2 pilots and have at least 16 attending. The Rose and a T-6 will be selling rides. There will be classic cars there also. You don't have to be in a biplane to join in, single wings of all sizes are welcome, too! The P-63 should make a couple of flights that afternoon for the pilot qualifications.
Thanks!
Last edited by Ray Clausen on Sat Dec 20, 2014 11:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:00 pm
We spent a few days in San Marcos and had the pleasure of meeting Mike Collier and checked out the Cobra Den. Lots of hard working people present. We kept a low profile as everyone seemed really busy but I shot a bunch of photos. Overall it was a good stop with alot of friendly people.
jim
jim
Re: CAF Centex Wing - News from the Cobra Den
Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:47 am
The Yellow Rose is there!
The Rose departed San Marcos at noon yesterday for Urbana and the Doolittle Reunion. They arrived late yesterday evening. Proud to have her up there representing us and the CAF.
The Rose is now officially a Centex Wing aircraft, too. Big vote was this past Wednesday. The Yellow Rose Squadron will cease to exist as a separate entity in the next few days.
The Zero and the Kate are in Houston this weekend for Tora practice and should be back tomorrow.
Promises to be a quiet day at the Cobra Den today.... My home PC choked and is currently out of action. Hopefully back early next week. Will get back with posts and photos then.
Oh and thanks, Jim, for the photos of the Den. That's about the best picture ever taken of Ol' Yeller!
Thanks!
The Rose departed San Marcos at noon yesterday for Urbana and the Doolittle Reunion. They arrived late yesterday evening. Proud to have her up there representing us and the CAF.
The Rose is now officially a Centex Wing aircraft, too. Big vote was this past Wednesday. The Yellow Rose Squadron will cease to exist as a separate entity in the next few days.
The Zero and the Kate are in Houston this weekend for Tora practice and should be back tomorrow.
Promises to be a quiet day at the Cobra Den today.... My home PC choked and is currently out of action. Hopefully back early next week. Will get back with posts and photos then.
Oh and thanks, Jim, for the photos of the Den. That's about the best picture ever taken of Ol' Yeller!
Thanks!